Ep. 298: Making a House a Home with Susanna Salk

Our guest this week is good friend Susanna Salk: design expert, successful YouTube creator, and author of over 14 books. Susanna talks with us about her new book, Making a House a Home, and some of the things she’s been most surprised about in the designer’s homes. She also discusses the difference between a designer’s home vs. a non-designers home and how we can bring that casual elegance into our own life, and gives insight into why spring cleaning isn’t exactly her thing including ways to edit your wardrobe and home in an easier, more consistent way.

What You’ll Hear on This Episode:

• How does Susanna find the time and inspiration to come up with her book concepts?
• Some of Susanna’s favorite tips and tricks that she has brought into her own space that she saw in a designer’s house.
• Making a House a Home is for everyone, both designers and novices alike.
• What are visual landscapes?
• How we can tie visual landscapes together using the dinner guest analogy.
• Your rooms don't have to look perfect, but they have to make you feel right.
• Susanna’s motto: “live with what you love, or give it away to somebody else.”

Mentioned in This Episode:

Ballard Designs

Susanna Salk

Making a House a Home

Miles Redd

Decorating Dilemma

Susanna wishes she was right with you! If she was there, the first thing she would do is get you a fantastic rug to cut up some of the wood. This would be the biggest game changer, and it doesn’t even have to be an expensive rug. Check out the Ballard rugs with a big, beautiful juicy pattern on it, and put the rug under your table area. Next, you should paint those current cabinets a nice white. Then, take the spindly chandelier that's coming down low and kind of blocking the windows above that table. And I would put a more recessed light above there.

You don’t need window treatments, and the windows and the view are beautiful enough. As far as the table, Susanna recommends getting rid of the little table and replacing it with a series of flower pots down along the floor area or a fiddle fig tree along the side.

If you can replace the dining room table, a vintage table or long farmhouse wood table would highlight the rug and make it feel less matchy-matchy. Or if you do replace the black solid barstools, pick a soft fun pattern and don’t worry about it matching with the rug.

If you only have $500 to spend, have an electrician take down the chandelier and put in another ceiling light. Thanks so much for writing in and good luck!